The Priests Of Psi

by Frank Herbert

A psychic parasite who hijacks personalities.

A couple who discovers the house of their dreams ... in the wrong dimension.

The priests of Psi, custodians of a forgotten wisdom which may exalt or damn mankind completely.

Five dazzling stories from one of science fiction's masters

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

204 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. was an American science fiction author best known for the 1965 novel Dune and its five sequels. Though he became famous for his novels, he also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, photographer, book reviewer, ecological consultant, and lecturer.
The Dune saga, set in the distant future, and taking place over millennia, explores complex themes, such as the long-term survival of the human species, human evolution, planetary science and ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, economics and power in a future where humanity has long since developed interstellar travel and settled many thousands of worlds. Dune is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, and the entire series is considered to be among the classics of the genre.

Reviews

[Gregoire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six nouvelles dont une avec l'agent Mc Kie (du bureau de Sabotage cf L'Étoile et le Fouet)
six nouvelles donc de Maître Frank Herbert bien dans le style des années 70-80 : manipulation ou pouvoir psychologiques, aliens en compétition ( in les marrons du feu un exemple : sortant de la bouche de Smeg sans crime il n'y aurait pas besoin de lois et d'agents de la force publique pour la faire respecter (...) la première règle lorsqu'on occupe un poste consiste à préserver une activité suffisante pour assurer la pérennité de son emploi ) , et l'homme vu à la loupe ( in la course du rat) ou encore le surhomme en voie de disparition (in le rien du tout) ...
Le tout bien emballé par une écriture à la fois précise et complexe
Moi, j'adore !

[Karl Spiteri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice stories the detail is stupendous however for me the shortest story was my favourite.

[Boulder Boulderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The capacity of Herbert to create new worlds in a few dozen pages is frankly astonishing, as is his ability to examine the questions of faith, religion, violence, and crucially control, of the society and by the society. An interesting collection of stories.

[Rebecca Strouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to read Frank Herbert's vision of the future. His scenarios with mind control haven't happened (that we can see!) but perhaps his writing about it was enough to put us in the right direction. Anyway, it makes for a good read!

[sanchit varma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Herbert is a damn freaking genius.

Even in these early short stories you get the classic Herbert themes:
freedom vs. control, truth vs. Institutional power, religion as a means of conditioning - in his brilliant controlled prose that almost reads as poetry.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason Goodreads won't let me give this more than one star. But obviously it deserves at least three. Lovely novella which explorers ideas very similar to the gum Jabbar well before Dune.

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Psi machines are extremely dangerous

[Pete Bartel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories. Not bad reading.

[Saski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I keep saying I'm not a short story person and yet, now that I am keeping track, it seems I not only have short story collections, but that I read and enjoy them. My notes say "Excellent!"

[Rufus · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ces nouvelles ont pas bien vieillies a part la première qui est un des premiers pas de l’auteur vers la metaphysique de Dune. Sinon il y a quelques idées intéressantes mais sans plus.

[Niall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read from the author of dune, similar themes return, like the function of religion in controlling human affairs, musing on rebirth, souls and mind, all in all a good view at of the mind that brought forth the god emperor of arrakis